newbie with more questions

[cheri_j]

I need to draw upon your vast knowledge.

1. I would love to have those beautiful tops, but when I put on the plastic wrap, the tops gets ruined. What do y'all do to keep those tall beautiful tops beautiful? Or those beautiful swirls?

2. The glitter. What kind of glitter do you use? I've looked at several suppliers and they don't have glitter. Is it school glitter?

I've made four batches of soap, all but one has the top that was molded by the plastic wrap. The other batch came to heavy trace way too fast and I had to quickly mold it. It's ugly, but I've got plans for it.

I've watched enough soaping videos that my eyes are crossed and I still can't figure it out.:crazy:

 

[chicklet]

To keep from smashing your fluffy tops - if you want to gel your soap, try putting your filled mold inside a sturdy cardboard box and then put a towel over the box. If you don't want your soap to gel, put the uncovered mold in the freezer for a while, then move it to the fridge. The top might get soda ash from being uncovered in both methods, so you can either spray the top with alcohol, steam or wash the ash off later, or just embrace the ash.

ETA: I've never used the glitter but I think I've seen it on Brambleberry's site. Just make sure it's body safe.

 

[Relle]

1. I don't gel my soap, spray with alcohol,then put it in the frig for about 1 hr without a lid and then the top will firm up a little then I sit a thin sheet of foam loosely on top, leave overnight, then take out and let sit all day and maybe unmould that day or the next.

2. Soap suppliers should have glitter, don't use school glitter, it has to be for soap. Try Brambleberry.
http://www.brambleberry.com/Search.aspx?k=glitter

 

[Lindy]

Each of us has our own methods. I don't wrap nor do I put it in the fridge. When I do my tops I simply spritz with alcohol and walk away. Well after I've glittered it. Most of the on-line suppliers sell the glitter and it is a cosmetic glitter.

 

[christinak]

1. I always put my molds in a box and wrap with at least 2 towels.
2. I haven't used glitter yet I'm still undecided about it.
3. I always get ash unless I cover with saran wrap and I, too, smoosh my tops.

I have no idea how to get around that. Even if I just put it loosely, it finds a way to adhere

 

[Lindy]

Christinak have you tried spritzing with rubbing alcohol? I think that it can also depend on your oils. My soaps are very OO heavy which may have some bearing on it....

 

[melstan775]

Christinak have you tried spritzing with rubbing alcohol? I think that it can also depend on your oils. My soaps are very OO heavy which may have some bearing on it....

I wonder too. I changed up the recipe I had been using to have more olive oil and I got no ash. Now how to keep the tops from caving in as the soaps dehydrate.....

 

[lizflowers42]

It's ugly, but I've got plans for it.

Best wishes!

 

[Genny]

I wonder too. I changed up the recipe I had been using to have more olive oil and I got no ash. Now how to keep the tops from caving in as the soaps dehydrate.....

That's from how much water you use. If you're using full water, try dropping it just a smidge.

 

[cheri_j]

Thanks so much for the insight! I have gone to Bramble Berry and purchased some glitter. I also purchased another $150 of supplies, including the vertical mold. My husband will thank all of you, I'm sure:!:

Everyone on this board is wonderful! I'm glad I'm a part of it. Even though I don't say much, I'm trying to be a sponge and absorb as much as possible. When I know a smidgen as much as y'all, you won't be able to shut me up!

Thanks again.

 

[MaitriBB]

I put my soap log mold in an out-of-the-way place and put a box top down over it.

My favorite glitter is Antique Gold from The Conservatorie. Unfortunately they require you to have a minimum order of $50 However just a 99 cent sample of the glitter has lasted me for months since I only use it on the top to sprinkle.

 

[Genny]

My big top ones are the ones that I always CPOP. I sprinkle them with a little glitter (Right now I'm using Go Planet Earth's glitter), let it sit for 1/2 an hour and then spray it with alcohol before popping it in the oven.

 

[heatherglen]

Yeah, definitely always use cosmetic glitter! And don't use any made from metal (aluminum) if at all possible. I've read horror stories about people, especially kids, cutting their eyeballs with non-cosmetic glitter. I'm just starting my glitter collection, but found some good deals at Rustic Escentuals.

 

[Genny]

Yeah, definitely always use cosmetic glitter! And don't use any made from metal (aluminum) if at all possible.

Yep, don't use any aluminum glitter in CP, since that would have an interesting reaction with the lye as well.

 

[christinak]

Guys, I read something about using 90% rubbing alcohol to spray it with and I have no idea where that is! I only see 70% or something at CVS. Does it really matter? Also, I only tried that ONCE and it left spots all over the top of my soap....amongst the ash, lol!

 

[mel z]

Guys, I read something about using 90% rubbing alcohol to spray it with and I have no idea where that is! I only see 70% or something at CVS. Does it really matter? Also, I only tried that ONCE and it left spots all over the top of my soap....amongst the ash, lol!

I had the same thing happen, only I used the 91% alcohol. (It has red numbers on it at CVS and WalMart, usually beside the 70%).

Not sure what causes ash, but I did have the wooden mold on the cold tile floor, beneath a window. That couldn't have helped any.

 

[Mommysoaper]

I spray my tops very liberally with 91% alcohol after molding and it has helped with my soda ash issue. I think some FO can make soda ash worse. I used the Green Tea FO from BB a while back and had forgotten that the description when I purchased it said it would cause soda ash. I cut my soap as usual and then stored it in a large wooden cupboard in my kitchen for a few weeks. When I went back to check on it it had tons of soda ash! A pretty ugly looking soap now and I'm not motivated to steam/wash it all off.

 

[MaitriBB]

My big top ones are the ones that I always CPOP. I sprinkle them with a little glitter (Right now I'm using Go Planet Earth's glitter), let it sit for 1/2 an hour and then spray it with alcohol before popping it in the oven.

Genny, have you noticed that when you CPOP, any hills/valleys you created in your soap tops tends to flatten out? Or is it just me?

 

[lizflowers42]

Guys, I read something about using 90% rubbing alcohol to spray it with and I have no idea where that is! I only see 70% or something at CVS. Does it really matter?

I was thinking I needed to find some moonshine or something...but that's probably higher than 91%, isn't it?

 

[mel z]

I was thinking I needed to find some moonshine or something...but that's probably higher than 91%, isn't it?

Lol, yeah, moonshine can be from 100 proof to 150.

The 91% isopropyl alcohol is usually in the drug store or Walmart in the first aid stuff, with the 70%. It is not always in stock, so check whenever you go. 70% will do until you find some, jmo.